Baldwin & Sons
Auction 79 8 May 2013
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G BRITISH COINS
The Bentley Collection of British Milled Gold Sovereigns
Extremely Rare George VI Matt Proof Coronation Gold Set, dated 1937
George VI (1936-1952), Matt Proof Finish, Gold Set of Four Coins, dated 1937, consisting of Five-Pounds, Two-Pounds, Sovereign and Half-Sovereign, struck for photographic purposes at the Royal Mint, Tower Hill (London), with an experimental matt finish, each coin depicting bare head portrait of King George VI facing left, engraved by T Humphrey Paget, tiny HP below, legend in abbreviated Latin reads GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: and translates as "George VI, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India", rev all struck with an "en médaille" die axis, each coin depicting St George slaying the dragon, after Benedetto Pistrucci, date in exergue with B.P. to upper right, all struck with plain edges in matt finished 22 carat gold (L&S 2; W&R 436 R6, 438 R7, 440 R7, 443 R7, these coins illustrated; K&M 858-861, listed as unique; S 4074-4077). All in PCGS holders, graded PF64, matt finish applied individually to each coin, toned, as struck, one of only two complete sets in private hands, of the highest rarity. (4)
ex Goldberg Coin Auction 26, Hollywood, USA, 6 September 2004, lot 2296
Numismatic flash photography was still in its infancy c.1936, and accurate reproductions of the brilliant proof polished die designs for the new coinage of King George VI was impossible with the problems of reflection inherent in the metal. At that time the easiest way to achieve detailed photographic reproduction of the designs was to alter the surfaces of the subject matter to make them non-reflective to the latest flash photography method. For this reason, these experimental matt finish coins were produced from a sand-blasting process so that accurate photographic reproductions could be made to promote and display to the Press and to advertise the new coinage for sale to the Public.
It would seem that once photographic duties were complete in the Mint this actual matt gold set was sent for display at the Royal Academy London. It is a known fact that a matt gold set was displayed in the Summer Exhibition of 1937, part of a display of new Royal Mint product that occurred annually for many years after, but now sadly defunct. The matt finish coins were clearly suited to being viewed under the brilliant lighting of such a display, with no inherent reflections as would be experienced with brilliant proof gold coins. This matt sand-blasting solution was used again in the promotion and display of later sets in the reign of King George VI, first in 1950 to mark the Half Century, and then in 1951 for the Festival of Britain.
The Royal Mint today confirm that 5501 gold sets were sold to the public, whether that figure includes the two matt gold sets is not confirmed but seems unlikely.
A H Baldwin & Sons Ltd, were privileged enough to have handled the other 1937 matt gold set in our Auction 69, 3 May 2011, lot 754, which sold for £108,000. That set was raw and ungraded, still in its original box with a photocopy of a Royal Mint letter. Please refer to that catalogue for a full write up of the history of that set which is also relevant to this set offered here. This is the only set so far graded by any commercial grading company.
Estimate: £60,000-80,000
The Bentley Collection of British Milled Gold Sovereigns
Extremely Rare George VI Matt Proof Coronation Gold Set, dated 1937
George VI (1936-1952), Matt Proof Finish, Gold Set of Four Coins, dated 1937, consisting of Five-Pounds, Two-Pounds, Sovereign and Half-Sovereign, struck for photographic purposes at the Royal Mint, Tower Hill (London), with an experimental matt finish, each coin depicting bare head portrait of King George VI facing left, engraved by T Humphrey Paget, tiny HP below, legend in abbreviated Latin reads GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: and translates as "George VI, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India", rev all struck with an "en médaille" die axis, each coin depicting St George slaying the dragon, after Benedetto Pistrucci, date in exergue with B.P. to upper right, all struck with plain edges in matt finished 22 carat gold (L&S 2; W&R 436 R6, 438 R7, 440 R7, 443 R7, these coins illustrated; K&M 858-861, listed as unique; S 4074-4077). All in PCGS holders, graded PF64, matt finish applied individually to each coin, toned, as struck, one of only two complete sets in private hands, of the highest rarity. (4)
ex Goldberg Coin Auction 26, Hollywood, USA, 6 September 2004, lot 2296
Numismatic flash photography was still in its infancy c.1936, and accurate reproductions of the brilliant proof polished die designs for the new coinage of King George VI was impossible with the problems of reflection inherent in the metal. At that time the easiest way to achieve detailed photographic reproduction of the designs was to alter the surfaces of the subject matter to make them non-reflective to the latest flash photography method. For this reason, these experimental matt finish coins were produced from a sand-blasting process so that accurate photographic reproductions could be made to promote and display to the Press and to advertise the new coinage for sale to the Public.
It would seem that once photographic duties were complete in the Mint this actual matt gold set was sent for display at the Royal Academy London. It is a known fact that a matt gold set was displayed in the Summer Exhibition of 1937, part of a display of new Royal Mint product that occurred annually for many years after, but now sadly defunct. The matt finish coins were clearly suited to being viewed under the brilliant lighting of such a display, with no inherent reflections as would be experienced with brilliant proof gold coins. This matt sand-blasting solution was used again in the promotion and display of later sets in the reign of King George VI, first in 1950 to mark the Half Century, and then in 1951 for the Festival of Britain.
The Royal Mint today confirm that 5501 gold sets were sold to the public, whether that figure includes the two matt gold sets is not confirmed but seems unlikely.
A H Baldwin & Sons Ltd, were privileged enough to have handled the other 1937 matt gold set in our Auction 69, 3 May 2011, lot 754, which sold for £108,000. That set was raw and ungraded, still in its original box with a photocopy of a Royal Mint letter. Please refer to that catalogue for a full write up of the history of that set which is also relevant to this set offered here. This is the only set so far graded by any commercial grading company.
Estimate: £60,000-80,000